For the Slavs on March 9 (22 in the old style) has always been a difficult day. It was believed that it was on the vernal equinox that winter lost its power and real spring began. Called this date in different ways - Larks, Teterinary Day, Lark Names, Kulikami, Magpies. The last name has nothing to do with ornithology, but has an interesting history connected with Orthodoxy.
How did the Orthodox holiday of Soroca?
It is more correct to call this date the day of memory of the Forty Sebastian torturers, this is how it is recorded in the calendar of the Orthodox Church. The city of Sevastia itself was located in Asia Minor, where the Roman province of Armenia was then founded. By 313, Constantine I banned persecution of Christians, but pagan beliefs still had great power. Many military commanders and politicians honored the old religion and, at every opportunity, tried to cause all sorts of trouble to the admirers of the true God.
The commander of the garrison of Sevastia was also an ardent idolater, and in 320 he decided to perform magnificent rituals with sacrifices in winter. Among his subordinates there were forty people who did not agree to take part in pagan rituals, despite the strong pressure, threats and persuasions of the authorities. The Roman official Agricola first promised a cash reward and a considerable increase to the rebels, but rich promises had no effect on the believers. Then came violent curses with threats of cruel punishment, which turned into real punishments. Forty courageous men were imprisoned in the dungeon, where they were expected to be executed. Support for the martyrs found in religion. After zealous prayers in the middle of the night, a divine voice sounded: "He who endures to the end will be saved." Encouraged by such a high farewell they were no longer afraid of any terrible punishment and torture.
According to legend, the execution was led by dignitary Lysias, who ordered to beat the martyrs with stones. Suddenly, a brutal murder failed. All the stones flew past, and one in general broke his face to the villain Agricola. The intimidated torturers brought the prisoners back to the dungeons and began to invent other tortures. At night, the martyrs again heard the voice of the Lord, calling not to be afraid of punishment for true faith. The next morning they led everyone to the shore of a frozen lake and threw them into cold water. Those who wished to return to become pagans promised forgiveness. Only one believed the promises and fled the water, but only he got into the hot bath, as he fell lifeless.
At night, miracles began to happen in the lake, which Aglaya noticed. The man saw how the light caught fire above the praying martyrs, and the warmth, melting ice floes spread around him. Luminous crowns burned over the heads of 39 persistent prisoners. Aglaya dropped his armor and joined them, believing at the sight of such a miracle in the Lord. In the morning they were seen by Lysias with Agricola and greatly enraged that they could not destroy Christians for so long. With the hammers, the torturers first crushed the legs of the believers, and then burned their remains in the fire, throwing the bones into the water.
After three days, forty saints appeared to the bishop of the city of Sebastia and were instructed to take the bones out of the lake. The astonished believers who carried out the assignment saw the remains shine with divine fire like stars. Then they betrayed their land with honor, saying all the prayers that were due. In honor of such a miraculous proof of divine power and to perpetuate the feat of Sevastian martyrs, a holiday was established that became instantly popular among the people.
Signs and customs for the Orthodox holiday Magpies
In Russia there was a custom to sculpt this day a special form of bread, resembling a lark. The peasants believed in the ability of beautiful birds to sing glory to the Lord. Even in a manner to fly them, when the larks are periodically replaced by a desire to skyrocket downward, people saw the reverence of feathered beings before the greatness of God.
It is not surprising that there are some signs on the holiday of the Magpies. For example, if in the morning there are frost on Forty Saints, then further forty frosts are also possible. When the Soroca was raining, the peasants were expecting another forty rainy days. A frosty morning for this holiday promised a harvest for buckwheat. The arrival of the jackdaws and forty home meant the arrival of warm weather. If the holiday is cold and there are lots of snow on the roofs, then it was also possible to expect the cold and the growing snow cover on the Annunciation .